Elderflower

Please excuse a non-craft related post, but today has, for once, been a craft-free day. 

Spent a contented hour this evening bottling elderflower cordial with OH.  I love elderflowers, both their blossom and their taste (although, disappointingly, the flowers smell nothing like the finished cordial and are really not v.pleasant).   The process of foraging for the blossom is a real pleasure as it involves a wander along the riverbank in sunny weather.

Recipe from http://www.a2nipswich.org.uk/radio-show/elderflower-cordial-recipe/  (makes 1.5 litres).

20 heads of elderflower

1.8kg sugar sugar

1.2 litres water

2 unwaxed lemons

75g citric acid

Shake the elderflowers to expel any lingering insects, and then place in a large bowl.

Put the sugar into a pan with the water and bring up to the boil, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved.

While the sugar syrup is heating, pare the zest of the lemons off in wide strips, slice the lemons, discard the ends and add the zest and slices to the elderflower bowl.  Pour the boiling syrup into the bowl and stir in the citric acid. Cover with a cloth and then leave at room temperature for 24 hours.

Next day, strain the cordial through a sieve lined with muslin (or a new j-cloth rinsed out in boiling water), and pour into thoroughly cleaned glass or plastic bottles.

And finally, an elderflower stowaway who was safely relocated to the outdoors.